LITTMANN 3M Monitoring Stethoscope Instructions
- June 12, 2024
- LITTMANN
Table of Contents
LITTMANN 3M Monitoring Stethoscope
Product Information: Stethoscope
The stethoscope is a medical device used by healthcare professionals to listen to sounds produced by the body, such as heartbeats and lung sounds. It consists of several components that work together to provide accurate auscultation.
Anatomy of a Stethoscope
- Eartips: These are the parts that fit into your ears. They should fit snugly to seal out ambient noise and help you focus on auscultation. All Littmann stethoscopes come with snap-tight, soft-sealing eartips.
- Eartube: Sound travels from the chestpiece through flexible tubing and then through the metal eartubes. Littmann stethoscope eartubes are made of an aerospace aluminium alloy, providing both strength and lighter weight.
- Headset: The headset consists of two eartubes, the yoke, and the eartips. Littmann stethoscope headsets can be adjusted for a proper fit into your ear canals by squeezing or pulling apart the eartubes.
- Tubing: Tubing provides the path for sound transmission. Littmann stethoscopes feature next-generation tubing that offers improved resistance to skin oils and alcohol, resulting in longer tubing life.
- Stem: The stem connects the stethoscope tubing to the chestpiece. In Littmann stethoscopes with two-sided chestpieces, the stem is used to index or open the desired side of the chestpiece.
- Tunable Diaphragm: A tunable diaphragm is a 3M invention that allows easy switching between hearing high and low-frequency sounds by adjusting the pressure on the chestpiece.
- Dual-lumen Tubing: Some Littmann stethoscope models feature dual-lumen tubing, which provides two separate sound channels for optimal sound transmission.
- Chestpiece: The chestpiece is placed on the patient’s body to capture sounds. Littmann stethoscope models may have a one-sided chestpiece with a tunable diaphragm or a two-sided chestpiece with a diaphragm on one side and a bell on the other. The bell may be open or closed with a tunable diaphragm, depending on the model.
For more information on using a stethoscope, please visit the official website: www.littmann.co.uk.
Product Usage Instructions
- Choose the appropriate size of eartips that fit comfortably into your ears, ensuring a snug fit to seal out ambient noise.
- Insert the eartips into your ears, making sure they are properly positioned for optimal sound transmission.
- Adjust the headset by squeezing or pulling apart the eartubes to ensure a proper fit into your ear canals.
- Place the chestpiece on the desired area of the patient’s body, ensuring good skin contact.
- Use the stem to index or open the desired side of the chestpiece if you have a two-sided chestpiece model.
- To switch between high and low-frequency sounds, adjust the pressure on the chestpiece’s tunable diaphragm.
- Listen carefully to the sounds transmitted through the stethoscope, making note of any abnormalities or specific findings.
- After use, clean and sanitize the stethoscope according to the manufacturer’s instructions to maintain hygiene and prolong its lifespan.
Learn more about using a stethoscope.
The 3M™ Littmann® Learning Institute App is packed with auscultation training resources that help you sharpen your ability to hear through a stethoscope. The basic version of the app is a free download from the iTunes App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>